Tobacco press



Feb. 3, 1931. I s' 1,791,326

TOBACCO PRESS Filed Dec- 9, 1929 2 Shoots-Shoot 1 I N VEN TOR.

Howard 55122171,

W I ATREY.

H. L. SMITH TOBACCO PRESS Feb. 3, 1931.

Filed Dec- 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 0 NEY.

Patented Feb. 3, 1931 nit!) STATEs HOWARD L. SMITH, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY TOBACCO PRESS Application filed December 9, 1929. Serial No. 412,872.

This invention relates to a tobacco press adapted to be applied to tobacco after the same has been stripped and hung on sticks for the purpose of making the tobacco easy to handle and to retain the same in a case con dition.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a press for the purpose aforesaid in which successive quantities of tobacco may be pressed within a pressure chamber without removing any of the pressed quantities there from and in which the pressure chamber is externally braced coincidentallywith the application of pressure to the tobacco therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tobacco press having the foregoing characteristics, Which is simple in construction, positive and efficient in operation, and

inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more particularly del '2 scribed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but itjis to be understood that the description and drawings are to be taken as illustrative and that the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same Figu-re 1 is a side elevation of a tobacco press in accordance with this invention.

F gur 2 i p .21mi he e f Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a reduced detail view showing the retaining board in elevation.

A press in accordance with this invention 4 includes a pair of rear supporting posts 1 arranged in spaced relation and connected together by means of a pair of braces 2. The braces 2 are preferably formed of metal and are arranged to intersect each other with each 5 brace connecting the upper end of one of the posts 1 with the other of said posts at a point spaced from the lower end of the latter. The press further includes a pair of front supporting posts 3 which are arranged in spaced relation and connected together by means of an end board 4 which extends from the upper ends of the posts to a horizontal plane spaced from the lower ends thereof. Extending between the front posts 3 and rear posts 1 is a pair of side boards 5 which are preferably clove-tailed or mortised intothe supporting posts and which have their outer side faces flush with the outer side faces of the posts. The supporting posts, end board and side boards are preferably formed of wood, al-

though they may be formed of metal if desired. Seated on the side boards 5 is a pair of top rails 6, the ends of which are preferably dove-tailed or mortised into the posts, and the outer side faces of which are flush with the outer side faces of the posts. Extending between the front and rear supporting posts, in spaced relation to the lower edges of the side boards 5, is a pair of bottom rails 7 which are preferably dovetailed or mortised into the posts with the outer side facesof the strips '7 flush with the outer side faces of the posts.

The connections between the supporting posts and top and bottom rails are reinforced by metal plates 8 which are secured to the outer side faces of the rails, and posts. Mounted on the upper faces of the top rails 6 is a pair of channeled, longitudinally extending tracks 9 formed of any suitable metal. The tracks 9 are of less Width than the rails 6 and the inner side faces thereof are substaii tially flush with the inner side faces of the rails. The supporting posts,endboard and side boards provide a pressure chamber 10 which is open at its top and bottom and also at rearward end, with the exception of the. braces 2 extending diagonal} y across the rearward end.

Disposed within the chamber 10, and pro.- jecting thereabove, is a press board 11, the width of which is slightly less than the space between the side boards ,5. Secured to the pp r e g o the press boar -1 is a op cross piece 12 which extends transversely of teno t 'ansversely of the press with ends projecting through spaces 16 between the side ,1- 1 "1 l Jo-aids o and bottom iails piece tall disposed iOilGTS 18 upper portions 1 tom rails to provide board 11.

pieces 12 *ertically disposed d1" pair or v 3:

over intermediate ti iich re secui-i pro. luild on or the I 2'? attachi o e the shalt. The chains 21 are prevented irom jumping on" the sprockets 22 by means of guards 22 which are securrd to ti and project over the sprocl: t mounted on the shatt ends of the latter is a ratchc teeth 01 which. are adapted to be en a pawl 29 pivotally connected to a bi: secured to and projecting from the for face of the end board Projecting the rear face of the press board 11 is a pair oi' spaced lugs 31 to which are connected the outer ends of a pair of rcarwardly and inwardly inclined chains 82. The inner ends of the chains 32 are secured to the upper end 01'? a chain 32, the lower end of which secured to the botton'i cross piece 15, and which extends from the cross piece at upward and rearward inclination. @03'1116' ted with the chains and 32 is a rope 33 ii is adapted to be wound around a Wl-Klli. rotatably mounted a substa daily shaped bracket 35 which is preferably formed of metal and welded or otherwise FfQCdlGCl to one of the braces 2.

In the operation of my improved press, sticks such as 36, having tobacco, as indicated at 3T. suspended therefrom, extended across the press to rest on the rec 9 rith the tobacco 37 depending into the chamber 10 between the end boarl t and press board 1. The board 11 is then drawn mvard the end means of which the tobaeco is tightly pressed between the press board 11 and the end board 4. During the pressing operation the side boards 5 are automatically protected against outward bulge by means of a pair of elongated rollers 38 which are provided at their ends with pintles 39 rotatably mounted in the cross pieces 12 and 15. The rollers 38 are disposed between the draw bars 19 and side boards 5 in close proximity to the latter in rolling contact with the outer faces thereof.

After the tobacco 37 has been pressed between the press board 11 and end board l, the tobacco may be retained in a pressed condition within the chamber 10 if desired, by means of a retaining board i0, while another supply of tobacco is pressed between the retaining board 40 and press board 11. The board so is preferably provided at its side edges with longitudinally extending strips e1 which are formed at their upper ends with. outwardly projecting handles 42 which 62:? tend over the tracks 9. Formed in the upper edges of the top rails 6 are a plurality of spaced openings 43 for the reception therein or removable pins Me, which project upwardly from the top rails int-o abutment with the rear faces of the handles 42 to retain the re taining board 40 in position at the upper end of the latter. The board 4.0 is maintained in position at its lower end by means of resilient latching devices 46 which are secured to the inner faces of the bottom rails 7 adjacent the lower edges of the latter, and outside the paths of travel of the guide rollers 18. As many sets of the latch members 46 may be provided as desired with each latch member disposed in vertical alignment with one of the openings 48. Only one set of the latch members is used to retain the board 40 in position such set depending upon the position longitudinally of the press in which it is desired to secure the retaining board.

The purpose of the Windlass 23 i and chains 32 and 33 is to draw the press board 11 in a rearward direction preparatory to the positioning of tobacco between the press board 11 and end board 4. When operating the Windlass 34, the pawl 29 is swung upwardly about its pivot to inoperative position.

It is thoughtthat the many advantages of a tobacco press in accordance with this invention will be readily apparent, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be re sorted to, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

7' hat I claim is:

1. A tobacco press comprising, means to provide a pressure chamber having a closed end and a pair of closed sides formed with longitudinally extending slots, at press board extending into the chamber transversely thereof and projecting above the latter, a top cross piece secured to the upper edge of the press board and having its ends projecting beyond the sides, bearing brackets depend ing from the top cross piece, rollers rotatably mounted in the bearing brackets and resting on the upper edges of the sides to support the press board, a bottom cross piece secured to the lower edge of the press board and having its ends projecting through the slots in the sides, bearing brackets depending from the bottom cross piece, horizontally disposed rollers rotatably mounted in said last named bearing brackets and engaging the inner faces of the sides to provide guides for the press board, vertically disposed draw bars connecting the ends of the top and bottom cross members, means for applying force to the draw bars longitudinallyof the chamher to move the press board toward the closed end of the chamber, and elongated rollers disposed between the draw bars and sides, said rollers being rotatably mounted on the top and bottom cross pieces and being disposed in close proximity to the outer faces of the sides.

2. A tobacco press comprising, means to provide a pressure chamber having a closed end and apair of closed sides formed with longitudinally extending slots, a press board disposed Within the chamber transversely thereof, supporting means for the press board rigidly connected therewith and having rolling contact with the upper edges of said sides, guiding means for the press board rigidly connected therewith and having rolling contact with the inner faces of said sides, external bracing means for said sides rigidly connected with the press board and having rolling contact with the outer faces of said sides, and means for forcibly moving the press board toward said closed end.

3. A tobacco press comprising, means to provide a pressure chamber, the sides of the chamber being adapted to support sticks having tobacco depending therefrom into the chamber, a press board movable within the chamber for compressing the tobacco therein, and means carried'by the press board for externally bracing the sides of the chamber at points adjacent the press board.

4. A tobacco press comprising, means to provide a pressure chamber having a closed end and a pair of closed sides formed with longitudinally extending slots, said sides being adapted to support sticks having tobacco depending therefrom into the chamber, 2 press board disposed within the chamber transversely thereof, means for forcibly moving the press board toward the closed end of the chamber to press the tobacco therein, external bracing means for said sides, said bracing means being rigidly connected with the press board, and a removable retaining board adapted to be engaged with said sides to retain the tobacco in a pressed condition within the chamber.

5. A tobacco press comprising, means to provide a pressure chamber having a closed end, the sides of the chamber being adapted to support sticks having tobacco depending therefrom into the chamber, a press board disposed within the chamber transversely thereof, means for forcibly moving the press board toward the closed end of the chamber to compress the tobacco therein, vertically disposed rollers in contact with the sides to externally brace the latter, said rollers being rigidly connected with the press board, and a retaining board adapted to be engaged with the sides of the'chamber to maintain the board against the compressed tobacco to re tain the latter in its compressed condition.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature hereto.

HOWARD L. SMITH. 

